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1 Answer
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As this column is not storing human readable content, but is to be used as an identifier, the content of this column should have a uniform structure, either with or without the dashes, but not mixing them! You'd also have a hard time having a UNIQUE constraint on this column...

Then you only have to strip the dashes from the the search string too. I assume ab-cd-ef is the same as abcdef. Do note however that doing so means a-bcd-ef and ab-cd-ef will be treated as being the same.

Why would you expect a varchar having structure in general? Regarding the actual question you may be right, but the wording here is too generalized, I think.
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dezsoOct 17 '12 at 9:56

@dezso you are right, I tried to edit the answer, but this is not as easy to reflect the change you suggested as it first seemed to be... I hop the meaning got through. Did I succeed?
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ppeterkaOct 17 '12 at 10:32